tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64528403588644111892017-07-23T06:59:29.777-05:00The BraysA + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-37320878120940045682013-05-25T20:58:00.001-05:002013-05-25T20:58:23.258-05:00The Hard PartsWe're preparing for our move on July 4th. We go to MS and then sometime in August we will move overseas. We are organizing our belongings. Preparing for garage sales. Getting our medical screenings completed. I ordered a pair of snow boots today. Daniel is working on his teaching certification. He continues to work 3 days a week and I am working 2 nights a week. I am trying to continue to lead a normal life for Liam - playing, swimming, and trying to not let him realize I've been going through all of his toys and getting rid of over half of them. I miss our dog, Jack, who is no longer our dog. He went to do a "trail run" with some friends of ours and we decided since he adjusted so well that he should just stay. Tonight I've been going through things, packing boxes, and posting some of our bigger items online to sell. We found a trailer to borrow so we can take a big load of things home the first week of June. <br /><br />I talked to a friend recently and she is moving at the end of the month. Other friends are in the process of moving as we speak. That's part of the seminary life. We went through this last summer and the summer before that. People come and people go. They leave their mark in your life and move on. I can't really complain because we are doing the same thing to our friends that we are leaving behind. But it's still really sad.<br /><br />Yesterday Daniel and I were talking while driving and I said I was going to miss Mexican food. He said he's going to miss Chic-Fil-A. We are going to miss our families terribly. Our friends terribly. Things will happen in America that we won't get to be a part of. Birthdays. Anniversaries. Parties. Church events. Graduations. Weddings. Births. And those are just the happy things. We won't be here to help when family members get sick. When storms (literal and figurative) go through and our families need help picking up the pieces. <br /><br />When I talk about our move, I always try talk about it in a positive light. I mean, this is what we came to Fort Worth to do eventually, right? This is what I've been preparing myself for since I was in high school. I keep saying, I'll wait to do this till closer to time - well that time is here. In a matter of about 6 weeks we are leaving Fort Worth - ready or not. We are stepping out on faith that we will get visas in a timely manner. That everything will just "work out" with money and plane tickets and timing. We don't have the money to rent a truck to move some of our things home. We don't have the money to buy 3 plane tickets. We don't have a back up plan ready in case something happens and we don't get to move overseas. We will be living off of our families for 4+ weeks until we have visas and plane tickets in our hands. Our friends who are already in our city have signed a contract for an apartment that they cannot afford unless we make it there and help them pay for it. <br /><br />I don't really know where else to go with this, but I do want to say that I am very excited about this move. And at the same time I'm scared. It's going to be different. I'm not going to know the language. I'm not going to recognize half the food. I may not have my family and friends there, but I will have a team there that will become friends and be like family. I'm not going to have an American church worship service to attend. But what an amazing opportunity we will have to share the Good Word with people who have never had the opportunity to hear! We will be living by our faith and looking for God to show us daily where we are to serve and who needs to hear His Name.<br /><br />In the midst of my sadness today, the Lord provided some light about our move. I was browsing facebook and someone had posted a link to a website about sponsoring children overseas. It got me thinking about looking for orphanages in our city, so I did. To my amazement I found an organization that has orphanages in several cities including ours! AND it's a Christian organization that isn't hiding behind a secular name - they out front tell people they are Christians and that is why they care for the orphans and the disabled children. And they work alongside the government freely. So I put in a call and sent an email to find out how I could help when we arrive in August. The director emailed me that same day and said she would love to have extra hands to love on the kids and that my nursing skills will be very valuable. I'm so stinkin' excited! Thankful for the little reminders from God about the joy and purpose in this move even when I'm drowning in my own sorrows.<br /><br />Please continue to pray for us. Pray for my sanity and attitude (especially toward Daniel as when I get stressed, I'm not always very nice to him). Pray for our family and their acceptance of our leaving. Pray for our finances. Pray for our city and our team and the people we will be sharing with.<br /><br />If you want to help support us, we are selling T-shirts. They are $20 a shirt plus $5 shipping. You can place your order <a href="http://www.customink.com/signup/36t0jmu2">here</a>.<br /><br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-71454055691668068912013-04-27T19:41:00.001-05:002013-04-27T19:41:46.689-05:00Revival in Montana<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/398847_602645797463_265419969_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/398847_602645797463_265419969_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billings, MT from the Rim Rocks</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>Each year during Spring Break, the Seminary sends students and teachers to churches throughout the country to preach revival services for Revive This Nation. Most of the churches that request preachers are small town churches with a small congregation. This was our 4th Spring Break at the seminary and the first year that Daniel was able to preach. We were placed in a church in Billings, Montana. (Just north of Yellowstone) We stayed with the pastor and his wife and served Bethel Baptist Church that week.<br /></div><div>We had quite a time getting to Billings (and another interesting time getting home, but more on that later). The seminary booked Daniel's ticket and paid for him to get there. I had to book my own ticket and pay for myself. By the time I booked my ticket, his ticket was too expensive so I decided to fly separately, but we still got there together on the same plane, and left Billings to head home on the same plane. I got an email on Friday night around 10pm that one of my connections was canceled due to weather in Denver. After waiting an hour to talk to a rep at Orbitz they told me they would have to contact United and it was an hour wait on their phone too. We found out that Daniel's flight into Denver was canceled too. The rep told us to just show up early and talk to someone at the ticket counter. So we got to the airport around 10am. We stopped at United and they told us we had to go to American since they were our first flight, they technically bought the tickets for us. We wait in line for about 45 minutes at American and finally get to the counter. The guy spent TWO HOURS trying to get us on a plane. Finally he did. We made it to Billings around midnight. We crashed.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/398902_602417035903_1759818415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/398902_602417035903_1759818415_n.jpg" /></a></div><div></div>On Sunday morning Daniel put on his suit and we headed to the church.We were way early because the pastor wanted to practice guitar. It was time change Sunday and a couple showed up early. I started talking with them and the man said he hadn't been to church in a long time but he knew he needed to start coming again. His wife and his daughter were with him. His wife is from Cambodia and she is Budist but encouraged her husband to come to church and wanted to come with him. I really enjoyed my conversation with them. There were several other people who showed up but I didn't get to meet all of them. I would guess they had an attendance of about 30. Daniel started his sermon series of John 14-16. At the end of the sermon, Pastor Dick&nbsp;gave an alter call and a teenage girl&nbsp;came up front and prayed to receive Christ. :-D She had been talking with&nbsp;the&nbsp;pastor and her grandmother and that Sunday she made the decision.<br /><br />We ate lunch at the church with the members and had the chance to start getting to know people. This church is located in a low income area. Most of its members are disabled in some way, whether it is physically (mostly health problems) or mentally. During the week we had the chance to hear some of the testimonies and we were in awe of how these people overcame some of their problems when they found God. We went home well fed and enjoyed a short nap before we headed back to the church for the evening service.<br /><br /><div>On Monday we hung out at the pastor's house and had lunch and took a walk over to Cabela's to get out of the house. Daniel preached again Monday night.<br /></div><div>Tuesday morning we went to breakfast with a woman and her mother and had a chance to get to know them and minister to them. Later that day we went to lunch with two other members. We loved spending time with the church members! Daniel preached again that night. See a pattern here? :) We had a pie and ice cream fellowship that evening.&nbsp;</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/577771_602645772513_1331982012_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/577771_602645772513_1331982012_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On top of the Rim Rocks with Billings in the background.</td></tr></tbody></table><div>On&nbsp;Tuesday we met&nbsp;one of the Montanta Baptist Assocation pastors/missionaries and had lunch at Red Lobster. We learned more about missions in Montana and the need for churches and Christians to partner with their local churches. Pastor Dick drove us around the city and up to the Rim Rocks to look out at the city. It was beautiful with the mountains in the background. We had dinner at one of the church member's home. And Daniel preached that evening.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctIvmAEkIfE/UV9ZK-AEBGI/AAAAAAAABXo/O2EJS1lXg0Q/s1600/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ctIvmAEkIfE/UV9ZK-AEBGI/AAAAAAAABXo/O2EJS1lXg0Q/s320/IMG_5235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVRYKJdGdPU/UV9ZNACSM-I/AAAAAAAABXw/E_kiJkSdshA/s1600/IMG_5243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVRYKJdGdPU/UV9ZNACSM-I/AAAAAAAABXw/E_kiJkSdshA/s320/IMG_5243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div>On Wednesday we took a drive with the pastor and his wife to Red Lodge up in the mountains. We got to play in the snow for a bit and drive up the mountain to look at some scenic views and then we ate at a Mexican restaurant for lunch. There are several kids that would play on the basketball courts at church so I went to Walmart and bought things to make salvation bracelets/keychains with. I got to sit down with 6 kids and explain what salvation meant using the bracelets. That evening we said our goodbyes to the church members and prayed over them.<br /><br />We had issues getting home the next day. Our reservations had been canceled because of everything that happened when we were trying to get to MT. Long story short, we sat in Denver for a long time until we were finally given seats on a flight straight to DFW. We got exit row seats and a free dinner out of it though. When all the problems happened while we were trying to get to MT, I blamed Satan. I was thinking that he was trying to keep us from getting to MT for the revival. But now that I look back on the situation, God totally had control the whole time. Our flight from Denver to DFW that we finally got on was amazing. I sat next to a woman who I was able to share the Gospel with and encourage her in her faith. In the end she didn't make any kind of decision, but she did indicate that there was something missing in her life. Planting seeds. :) <br /><br />We learned a lot from this church and it's pastor. A lot of times we go in with ideas and misconceptions of what a church is supposed to look like. But church is just a building where people can come to hear the Word of the Lord and be accepted because we have something in common - we all love God and His people. This church was unlike any other church we have ever been a part of. Most of the people are hurting. Most of them had some sort of disability. Most of them were considered "outcasts" in regular society. But this church and it's members accepted them. Just as Jesus would have. Christ died for everyone. We all have sins and we all need a Savior. We were very thankful for the opportunity to serve this church and get to know it's members. We had an idea in our heads of what missions in North America looked like, and this trip opened our eyes to a whole other side. Churches like Bethel need help. They need people who are willing to serve and love those that others reject. This church has been faithful to it's neighborhood and members and God has blessed them.&nbsp; </div><div></div><div><br /></div>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-30620316282582217112013-04-24T22:04:00.000-05:002013-04-24T22:49:25.691-05:00New Journey for the Brays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxm-575D8X0/UXguV-vP4sI/AAAAAAAABX8/DwS-txprrzQ/s1600/Prayer+Cards1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxm-575D8X0/UXguV-vP4sI/AAAAAAAABX8/DwS-txprrzQ/s400/Prayer+Cards1.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />If you know us at all, you know our heart for missions and for the Lord. Since I was a freshman in high school I've always known I wanted to live overseas. Daniel's call was a little later than mine, but nonetheless, that is his heart as well. We moved to Fort Worth so that Daniel could attend seminary and we had intentions of moving overseas and working with the SBC company. Apparently God had other plans. If you've followed the blog or talked with us, you know that for various reasons we backed out of that process and were waiting for God to show us a new plan. Daniel decided to go back to school this semester and complete a different degree. After taking 17 hours this semester, he will graduate on May 10th. He started applying for some pastoring jobs around the US but nothing looked really promising so we continued to pray about what we were supposed to do after graduation.<br /><br />In February, a sweet friend of mine from high school called to catch up. She and her husband have been serving in East Asia as English teachers at an elementary school since last August. She called to tell me that they were looking for more teachers for the next school year. Everything she was telling us was incredible - almost too good to be true. She sent us some information, we started emailing one of the founders of the organization that helps the teachers find jobs, and started praying. Basically, this organization helps find us a job, we work along side a team of other teachers in a city, we get a salary and housing stipend from the school, and we build relationships and share with the people we meet. We don't have to raise support for our daily living expenses (although we do have to raise some money for moving costs and start up in the city like buying furniture and all the household items we will need). We get to work with a team so we aren't by ourselves in a foreign city. They provide language tutors to help us adjust. There are two good breaks during the school year that we can come home and visit family. For every year we renew our contract with the school, they will provide us with a round trip ticket to come home and see family. It's only a year to year commitment. As far as certification to teach, all that's require right now is a 40 hour online course.<br /><br />So we're moving to East Asia. In August. We don't really know for how long. We are selling a lot of our stuff, and we will store a lot too. Jack needs to find a new home. We are trying to prepare ourselves for 24hours of travel with a 2 year old. There are a lot of unanswered questions about how this will all work out, but we know that if this is truly something that the Lord has prepared for us, then it will all be taken care of.<br /><br />Will you pray with us? This is a huge adjustment for all of us, especially for Liam and our families. Will you pray that the money will be there when we need it? Will you pray for our team and the schools we will be working in? And pray for my sanity as I'm trying to organize our life into 3 different categories - what goes with us, what stays behind, and what we get rid of.<br /><br />We're excited about our new journey! A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-55659213730629614082013-04-05T18:05:00.002-05:002013-04-24T22:49:51.716-05:00Liam Micah is 20months old<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDRGHbWasJs/UV9XdZnQ9PI/AAAAAAAABXM/h911IxnCtDI/s1600/IMG_5540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dDRGHbWasJs/UV9XdZnQ9PI/AAAAAAAABXM/h911IxnCtDI/s320/IMG_5540.JPG" width="213" /></a></div></div><div>Well, we missed a few months in here. Oh well. :) Sorry Liam, one day I will not be able to tell you everything that happened between your 16th month of life and your 20th. I'm sure you'll be heartbroken. So let's see if I can remember some of your milestones recently. </div><div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp7PM3dD2RM/UV9XgxKYqXI/AAAAAAAABXU/fP-K3xvwzz0/s1600/IMG_5564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mp7PM3dD2RM/UV9XgxKYqXI/AAAAAAAABXU/fP-K3xvwzz0/s320/IMG_5564.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>Liam's vocabulary has taken off. He knows a bunch of words. He's even starting to put words together to make 2 word scentences. Like "get off", "come here", and the ever popular "no Jack". Pretty much everything revolves around Jack. Haha.</div><div>He loves hats, shoes, and socks. He especially likes our hats, his rainboots, and wearing socks on his hands. </div><div>Still loves dancing and he's been improving his moves.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/63236_601203941953_386917023_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/63236_601203941953_386917023_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/62426_601202639563_1215788243_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/62426_601202639563_1215788243_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>&nbsp;He likes sitting at the table rather than in his high chair. </div><div>He loves dipping his food in ketchup/ranch/whatever else he can dip his food into.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/5432_603178450023_900900691_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/5432_603178450023_900900691_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div><div>Mr. Independent will not let us feed him anymore. And he likes to use his own silverware rather than his hands. But hands are always there for backup. </div><div>He's recently started playing with his puzzles and actually putting the pieces back rather than dumping them out and leaving them on the floor.&nbsp; </div><div>He's been my big helper and can do simple tasks that I ask him. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579102_603694460933_1328052128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579102_603694460933_1328052128_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div>His Mamaw taught him the Clean Up song and he sings it frequently when he is putting toys away.</div><div>He's got a good arm when it comes to throwing a ball. Not to good at catching or kicking. </div><div>He loves to throw things away. Most of it doesn't need to be thrown away and we have to fish it out of the trashcan.</div><div>He also likes to put dishes in the sink. Even clean ones. Or toys. We find lots of toys in the sink. </div><div>He's found that he can splash in the bathtub. And so he does.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnDVOKWJpvs/UV9Yloy9ejI/AAAAAAAABXc/kXLDhPxX1aI/s1600/IMG_5131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnDVOKWJpvs/UV9Yloy9ejI/AAAAAAAABXc/kXLDhPxX1aI/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div></div>Mommy is no longer in his vocabulary. We are both Daddy now. <br /><div>Favorite word is definitely No. And it is the response we receive to all questions.</div><div>One of his favorite past times is playing in Jack's food. He takes the food and throws it at Jack, and he takes the food and puts it in his water dish. </div><div>He's gained a passion for coloring. With pens, markers, crayons, sharpies, highlighters, whatever makes a mark. </div><div>His laugh is contagious.</div><div>He likes sleeping with his sock monkey which he affectionately named "Me" and one of his blankets. </div><div>He loves light switches. </div><div>Favorite toys include his barn and the animals, a ball, his tricycle, and his guitar. </div><div>Clothing size 18-24mo.</div><div>Diaper size 4.</div><div>Shoes size 6.</div><div>Still waiting on his incisors to come in, but he's been messing with his mouth a whole lot more recently.&nbsp; </div>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-51862465969236965652013-02-08T14:15:00.000-06:002013-04-24T22:50:49.116-05:00Christmas 2012<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/734417_593291259033_1993644702_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/734417_593291259033_1993644702_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We decided not to do a Christmas card this year to save a little money since Daniel decided to go back to school for one more semester. So we sent out a Christmas card Text. :) Merry Christmas from the Brays! </td></tr></tbody></table>Our Christmas this year was one that we will never forget. Liam's first Christmas was last year, but he was only a few months old and didn't really get to "enjoy" the festivities or be involved at all other than to be the center of attention and the subject of pictures - which he was again this year. :)<br /><br />Daniel and I discussed whether we want to do Santa with Liam and we have decided to not make Santa the focus of Christmas since that's not what the holiday is really about. However, we did take pictures with Santa this Christmas. We went to downtown Fort Worth one evening with Liam and a young girl who lives in our apartments and helps us out with Liam. We took her to see the Santa in the Square so we took a family picture with him as well.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/156134_592738147473_298519263_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/156134_592738147473_298519263_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/281618_592738197373_127388718_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/281618_592738197373_127388718_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We also had a CARES event with Santa at our breakfast so we took another picture. So much for not involving Santa at Christmas. Haha. :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/156108_592738327113_1371227637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/156108_592738327113_1371227637_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right before we left to come home for Christmas, I had the pleasure of taking some sweet friends' family pictures. I took their Christmas card and Prayer Card pictures in November and they asked us to come out to their parents' and take some family pictures for them. They are about to move to South Asia. We had so much fun playing on the playground at the park where we took pictures!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/184457_593030127343_1387037256_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/184457_593030127343_1387037256_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/305386_593030232133_819084443_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/305386_593030232133_819084443_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Worst part about our Christmas this year: The stomach bug.<br /><br />We were supposed to leave on Thursday to head to Daniel's parents to celebrate Christmas. On Wednesday, Liam woke up and was a little cranky, but nothing out of the usual. I put him in his high chair for breakfast and he wouldn't eat anything. So I got him down and gave him some orange juice and he went to play. Then about 5 minutes late he threw up everywhere. :/ It was one of those moments that I had no idea what to do. But I handled it. I cleaned him. I cleaned the carpet. I cleaned myself. And we repeated that process about 4 more times during the day. Poor baby. He was just pitiful all day. We laid around on the couch all day watching movies and TV shows that he liked.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/10053_593030761073_1058493635_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/10053_593030761073_1058493635_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Thursday came and Liam had diarrhea and was still throwing up. So we didn't leave. Friday morning Daniel and I both woke up with nausea and then Daniel was sick. Mine never progressed to true sickness but I just felt bad. I think God spared me because someone had to take care of Daniel and Liam. Daniel and I both felt 100% on Saturday and Liam was doing well so we decided to go ahead and hit the road to Mississippi for one of the family Christmas parties that night. (Yes, we know we are stupid, and yes, we know the whole 24 hour rule but we did not follow that.) We made it to MS fine. Enjoyed the party with the family. And then Liam got sick again that night. But he had fun with all the family and got to open a few gifts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/380581_593030481633_711075622_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/380581_593030481633_711075622_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/532583_593030601393_1580168153_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/532583_593030601393_1580168153_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We spent Christmas Eve in MS with Daniel's family. We ended up making Nathan sick on Christmas Eve. We went to Nana and PaPaw's on Christmas Eve to have dinner and open gifts. We put Liam to bed and then we opened more gifts at Daniel's parents.&nbsp; <br /><br />Liam woke Christmas morning and had thrown up again that night so his cute Christmas PJs were not worn for pictures that morning. Oh well. We actually didn't even take pictures that morning haha.<br /><br />After breakfast we headed to my parents to spend Christmas Day with them. Liam stayed in his PJs all day. We opened gifts that evening and had dinner. I'll just say this, Liam is spoiled. :) His grandparents and great grandparents sure do love him.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/735195_593486852063_438219988_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/735195_593486852063_438219988_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3495_593486921923_1824859292_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3495_593486921923_1824859292_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Before we headed back to TX, we had made plans to go to Hattiesburg to see some friends who had recently had babies! I loved getting to snuggle with the babies and Liam got to play with his friend EG! Liam was not happy about me holding the babies though. At one point he just laid down on the floor and threw and absolute tantrum because I had another child in my arms. Glad he doesn't have a little sibling yet. We ordered pizza that night and enjoyed the company of our friends from college while the kids played and we talked about what life as parents is like. Emily just had her second and Lydia had her first and then there's me with mine. :)<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/p206x206/735140_593780533523_1664310456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/p206x206/735140_593780533523_1664310456_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nothing fun happened on New Years for us. I worked that night so I celebrated with my coworkers and patients. Liam slept right through the New Year. :)<br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-47733227331914753592013-02-04T15:09:00.001-06:002013-04-24T22:50:36.673-05:00Thanksgiving 2012Little late posting this, but it was such a great time with family that I don't want to forget it. :)<br /><br />We were able to make it home for Thanksgiving this year. Since Liam had spent over a week with Daniel's family in October while we were in the Philippines, we decided to spend most of our time at my parents so they could get some special time with Liam. <br /><br />We stopped off at Daniel's home on the way in to see some of the family and love on our new little cousin! :) Liam wasn't too sure about me holding another baby.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156760_590595167023_2010333954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156760_590595167023_2010333954_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Liam and I headed to my parents house while Daniel and his younger brother (along with Jack) went camping for a few nights in the Sipsey Wilderness. It was great bonding time for them. :) Daniel loves camping and Nathan had never had the chance to go camping with him before. They had such a great time and came home exhausted!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/381573_590595476403_86186559_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/381573_590595476403_86186559_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/378939_590595381593_220360895_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/378939_590595381593_220360895_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>While the boys were camping, Liam and I just hung out with my parents. Liam got to go to the preschool that my mom works at and attend the Mom's morning out program. He got to participate in the thanksgiving feast (yummy vegetable soup) and listen to all the kids sing songs about the pilgrims and Indians. <br /><br />After Daniel and Nathan got back to my parents, we had all my close high school friends who were in town over for pizza one night. It was a fun night of catching up on each others' lives, talking about 'remember when' and stuffing our faces with Mellow Mushroom pizza. Yum. :)<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/1010_590595656043_1171300663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/1010_590595656043_1171300663_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam made some funny faces while we took pictures with each other.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/532158_590595740873_1780895386_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/532158_590595740873_1780895386_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these girls so much! I'm so glad that Liam gets to spend time with them. :) (We missed you Allison and Kristen!)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>On to Thanksgiving Day. This Thanksgiving was very special because we were able to spend it with both sides of our immediate family. Daniel's parents and brother and my parents were all together. When I first asked my mom about having Daniel's parents over for Thanksgiving, I thought I would ease her mind about having to cook for so many people and tell her that I would cook the entire meal. So I did! I used several of Daniel's family recipes and some of my own to create a delicious dinner. Mom bought the food and I prepared it. Daniel's mom brought ham and homemade bread and an apple pie. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481020_590595810733_468963094_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/481020_590595810733_468963094_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosemary Turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, bread, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, cheesy carrots, sweet green beans, cranberry sauce - YUM!!! I wish I could eat this meal for every meal!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/526867_590595910533_72882131_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/526867_590595910533_72882131_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/73233_590596025303_708098038_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/73233_590596025303_708098038_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/390242_590596030293_1470964857_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/390242_590596030293_1470964857_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-22470861341465448542013-02-01T09:16:00.000-06:002013-04-24T22:51:02.144-05:00A Bray BoutiqueMy embroidery and sewing work now has a facebook page. It has brought me many more orders! :) I had a somewhat hard time thinking of a name. I wanted to do something that matched - like the B's (Bray Boutique). But as an RN I sign my name A.Bray and I really liked the sound of that. So that's what I went with.&nbsp; Here's some of the recent stuff by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/abrayboutique">A Bray Boutique</a>. I've learned a lot and expanded my ordering options. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/313837_158423547642958_1161420670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/313837_158423547642958_1161420670_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My newest obsession. These shirts are adorable! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74971_155345934617386_1160080990_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74971_155345934617386_1160080990_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I learned to sew a straight line and started making pillowcase dresses! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/379744_154189324733047_433175141_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/379744_154189324733047_433175141_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had several Valentine's orders! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/536911_154189071399739_1986445114_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/536911_154189071399739_1986445114_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love pink and green! And this font! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/24447_149008425251137_190016140_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/24447_149008425251137_190016140_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a gift that I gave a sweet friend from college. Made me so happy to do something with Lockhearts and the W! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/375197_146197378865575_689244758_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/375197_146197378865575_689244758_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I started embroidering dish towels for Christmas gifts. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-67997088732678048062013-01-20T16:20:00.002-06:002013-04-24T22:51:18.572-05:00It's More Fun in the Philippines This is the story of our adventure to the Philippines in October 2012 as a pilot trip for our church to help figure out how our church can serve long term in the Philippines. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/229845_586606934473_1910672294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/229845_586606934473_1910672294_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team: Jeff, Randi, me, and Daniel on location for where our church will be serving for the next few years.</td></tr></tbody></table>The night before we left, Daniel and I spent the night at Jeff and Randi's since our first flight left DFW at 6am. That morning Daniel drove to Louisiana to meet his mom and drop Liam and Jack off. At J and R's Daniel tried out his new mat and I slept on the couch. After a few hours of sleep we got up and headed to the airport.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400802_586067769963_1080577403_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400802_586067769963_1080577403_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right side is us before leaving for the Philippines, and Left side is us leaving the Philippines and headed home! </td></tr></tbody></table>We flew from DFW to San Francisco to Honolulu to Guam to Manila where we had a 20 layover. We spent the night at the Remington Hotel. We had some issues with rooms and number of beds, but we finally got a good room and slept well until about 3am when our bodies realized it was 4pm at home. We Finally got up around 6 and went to eat at the pancake house down the street then headed back to the airport.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/561468_586602663033_414062564_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/561468_586602663033_414062564_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel in Manila</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3453_10151115500883811_965225715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3453_10151115500883811_965225715_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating at the Pancake House - pretty good breakfast!</td></tr></tbody></table>We arrived in Butuan City where Joie met us and took us to Dottie's Place hotel to drop our bags then we went to Pizza Hut for lunch. An IMB missionary with Neamiah Teams met us and drove us out to a farm earlier supported by the IMB but has since been turned over to the Filipinos. They have plans for biosand water filters, lots of land for farming that needs to be cleared, space for large groups and possible housing for a missionary family. They need workers to get the farm going again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/548765_10151115502048811_1704323693_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/548765_10151115502048811_1704323693_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a large "taxi". It can fit about 10 people. That's Joie on the bike behind us. This is how we got from the airport to the hotel. </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548394_586602952453_143728679_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548394_586602952453_143728679_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/p206x206/10460_586604424503_1541759378_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/p206x206/10460_586604424503_1541759378_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dottie's Place Hotel</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/553454_10151115502238811_1596802603_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/553454_10151115502238811_1596802603_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at a clinic and some bunk rooms on the Farm</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/224521_10151115502668811_1463793506_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/224521_10151115502668811_1463793506_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r270/391663_10151115503703811_1572258550_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r270/391663_10151115503703811_1572258550_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biosand Water Filters that need to be finished.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;We also went to Joie's farm, ate coconut, pineapple, and local fruits. We saw some local cock fighting. And watched as a village worked together to harvest rice. That evening we ate at a local restaurant and ate some of the best "chicken on a stick" that I've ever had. <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/74846_10151115506418811_1849825123_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/74846_10151115506418811_1849825123_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In front of the beautiful rice fields</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/307995_10151115506838811_457980532_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/307995_10151115506838811_457980532_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbing the tree to get us a fresh coconut</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/60132_10151115507108811_1403834262_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/60132_10151115507108811_1403834262_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first time to have coconut water</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/577301_10151115508278811_2029566100_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/577301_10151115508278811_2029566100_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying fresh pineapple and coconuts</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550667_10151115508393811_1125676022_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550667_10151115508393811_1125676022_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone ordered chicken on a stick. It was good! </td></tr></tbody></table>The next morning we rode a van for about 2 hours and met some guys with skylabs or a motorcycle with wings. Rode for about 3-4 hours on skylabs to Pastor Bhen's village. We had to cross a river on a bamboo raft. And the "roads" were not roads, but more like mountain bile trails with lots of dips and ruts where bikes have been stuck in the mud. Bumpiest and most scary and possibly the coolest thing I've ever done.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/22525_586604514323_1069515960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/22525_586604514323_1069515960_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what we rode for 4 hours on. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/304361_586604688973_612560736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/304361_586604688973_612560736_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we rode on that bike for 4 hours. Yep. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156692_586604624103_1772423204_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156692_586604624103_1772423204_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing a river on a bamboo raft.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/57890_10151115518278811_450525011_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/57890_10151115518278811_450525011_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598658_585696204583_1724935735_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598658_585696204583_1724935735_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A "road". However, this is actually a very good section of the road. A lot of the time part of the road was washed out or had huge ruts in it from motorcycles going through it when it was mud. </td></tr></tbody></table>Bhen's wife Teresa fed us lunch and we walked around the village looking at the community. I played with some little girls and taught them A Tooty Ta. We rested for a while and then ate dinner and went to a worship service where we were introduced to the community and Jeff explained what we were doing here and Daniel presented a message on living the Christian life. Lots of singing and instruments were involved.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/304344_586604788773_1618896976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/304344_586604788773_1618896976_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our welcome group when we arrived in Bhen's village.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/60161_10151115510083811_580990530_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/60161_10151115510083811_580990530_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The homes may not be much in our opinion, but I love that they take pride in what they have by planting flowers and decorating!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/543444_10151115511008811_1148848227_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/543444_10151115511008811_1148848227_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking around with the kids. The Church building is behind us. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486680_586604898553_1559613184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/486680_586604898553_1559613184_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful views! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/550558_586605347653_977747546_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/550558_586605347653_977747546_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the classrooms in the village. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/554139_586605532283_1224755934_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/554139_586605532283_1224755934_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a view of the village from a large hill. In the very back is the school, the triangle shaped roof is the church, and you can see some of the houses. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/22813_10151115513428811_574847849_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/22813_10151115513428811_574847849_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new building.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3031_10151115513663811_1971699647_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3031_10151115513663811_1971699647_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how they cut lumber in the Philippines. With a chainsaw. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/397279_10151115514248811_1022929172_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/397279_10151115514248811_1022929172_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were welcomed by the military. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408762_10151115516108811_593289909_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/408762_10151115516108811_593289909_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stage in the church. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552218_586605921503_123900466_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552218_586605921503_123900466_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were soooooo many people there wanting to hear us speak. This is about 1/3 of one of the sides of the church.</td></tr></tbody></table>We shared twin sized beds under mosquito nets that night and it wasn't too bad. We woke several times to various animal noises. Goats, chickens, roosters, dogs, cats and pigs. The roosters started crowing at 5am. We got up and had a devotional with the local pastors and learned about their vision for the BaMaTa community and Pastor Ben's strategy for missions in that area.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/254454_10151115517568811_350312594_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/254454_10151115517568811_350312594_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff hanging a mosquito net above one of the twin beds</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/36613_586606714913_328486976_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/36613_586606714913_328486976_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the area in the Philippines where our church will be serving. Who wouldn't want to live here!?</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/67181_586606819703_1990689664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/67181_586606819703_1990689664_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explanation of what Bhen and his team want to do in the area.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/409201_586606879583_1813199778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/409201_586606879583_1813199778_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pastor Bhen and his team and our team</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/425726_586606869603_854423065_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/425726_586606869603_854423065_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessed to have the opportunity to be here.</td></tr></tbody></table>We ate some breakfast and sugar cane and hit the road in the motorcycles again. We took a few stops on the way this time. The boys played basketball in a village and the kids there thought it was so funny. I had the chance to talk with Teresa about the healthcare needs and women's healthcare related to birth and such. <br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541298_586607433473_1921660190_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541298_586607433473_1921660190_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SR team with Pastor Bhen and his family. The sign we are doing is for "love God, love people"</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>On our way down the mountain we got a flat less than a mile from our stopping point. We took a little motorized cab the rest of the way. We hired a van to take us to Butuan City. Picked up our things that we stored at our hotel and hit the road again. Took a jeep thing to the bus terminal to hire another van. Snuck in the back way through the market so the drivers wouldn't see the Americans and jack up the price. Joie went to negotiate and came to get us when he found a fair price.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/254564_586607807723_738206426_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/254564_586607807723_738206426_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market we walked through.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Everyone loves to stare and they have no problem doing so. And every time Joie would hire a ride of some sort, as soon as we showed the drivers always started trying to renegotiate the price. We rode in a van for about 3 hours to Surigoa where we stayed at the Tavern. Super nice hotel and we walk in all dirty and smelly. Took quick showers and had planned to get some "American" food so we went to the hotel restaurant for burgers. They were awful. I should know by now not to expect much from American food in other countries. Its just not the same. Joie ordered some seafood soup that Daniel really enjoyed. Daniel and I stayed at the hotel to call our family while the others went to find pizza. We all passed out quickly and slept through the night for the first time.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3423_10151115550003811_1041407213_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/3423_10151115550003811_1041407213_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started getting lazy taking pictures, so this is the only picture to show you how nice this hotel was. They had cold Starbucks in the lobby. </td></tr></tbody></table><br />&nbsp;The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel and walked down the street to catch a ferry out to Dinegat Island. The boat rode was about 4 hours and we got to see a lot of little villages along the way. We rode on top of the boat instead of inside where it was crowded, hot, and smelled like fumes.<br />&nbsp;We snacked on bread and fruits that Joie and Jeff picked up in the market before we left. Some of the water got a little rough so we ended up wet frequently.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579204_586607982373_975283566_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579204_586607982373_975283566_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel talking with a man in the street while waiting for our ferry - turns out he was a believer! </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/285715_10151115550133811_966280034_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/r270/285715_10151115550133811_966280034_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our ride to the island.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/304326_10151115550583811_1693268538_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/304326_10151115550583811_1693268538_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a Red Bull before we left! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247299_10151115550938811_1251594984_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/247299_10151115550938811_1251594984_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just riding a boat. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/26623_10151115553248811_1580047921_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/26623_10151115553248811_1580047921_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's amazing what the waves do the rocks. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/404303_586608082173_1486017792_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/404303_586608082173_1486017792_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A town that we passed.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578470_586608226883_214770779_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578470_586608226883_214770779_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how we rode for 4 hours. </td></tr></tbody></table>We finally arrive in Tubajon on Dinegat Island and met Pastor Arnel and his family (wife Jane, and children, Daniel and Abigail). They live above the Baptist church where they were sent to pastor about one year ago. They currently have 15 regular attenders. We ate some lunch and walked around their community and met some people. We spent some time visiting with the Captain (similar to a chief) and see the bats that live in the trees in his backyard. We walked almost the entire village.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545811_10151115553393811_903308998_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545811_10151115553393811_903308998_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tubajon</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/314211_586608501333_1011941912_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/314211_586608501333_1011941912_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The market</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557585_10151115553768811_1649819638_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557585_10151115553768811_1649819638_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walking to the church to drop off our bags</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r270/302649_10151115553958811_1382898028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r270/302649_10151115553958811_1382898028_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The church and Pastor's home upstairs</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/60161_10151115554043811_2133488223_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/60161_10151115554043811_2133488223_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292752_10151115555403811_735007528_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292752_10151115555403811_735007528_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful island</td></tr></tbody></table>They have running and clean(ish) water an electricity. Multiple churches of various denominations with Catholic being the largest. We also found out about a cult in the Philippines but I don't recall the name. Apparently the leader is in hiding though. As we walked back to the church several kids ended up following us so I spent some time outside playing with them. We did A Tooty Ta, Father Abraham, and Baby Shark. They sang a song for me. I asked them questions about their lives and their island. Finally it got dark so I went back inside the church and told them to go home but they didn't. They all stood at the door and looked in as we ate dinner and talked. The pastor agreed end to let them come inside the door and Daniel shared the story of the three trees with them.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547012_586608636063_1064111031_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/547012_586608636063_1064111031_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the kids listening to Daniel tell a story</td></tr></tbody></table>Then we sent them home again and shut the door but most of them continues to stay outside looking in through the concrete blocks. Some of the church members came over for dinner and a prayer meeting. We joined the prayer meeting and prayed for many things about the church and the village and for our church's mission as well. We were sooo exhausted when it was over and set up bedding on the floor and in the pews and went to sleep. Thankfully we had fans to keep us cool. <br /><br />The next morning we woke, snacked a little and went to get a boat to take us to some of the smaller villages. We assumed it would be a big boat but it was very small and we all just barely for in it.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/69787_10151115557483811_471076611_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/r270/69787_10151115557483811_471076611_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small boat. Very small boat. </td></tr></tbody></table>The water was very choppy and we all got very wet. We were only able to go to one village because the water was too rough to get to one village and there was too difficult to dock at another village. The village we went to was nothing like we expected. They also had drinkable water and electricity and a clinic where a midwife was able to deliver babies with sterile procedures. They had toilets in about half of the homes. I'm guessing the village had 100+ homes. We found out there are 3 families who are believers and just recently converted. A pastor comes from Tubajon about once a month to teach. We had the opportunity to pray over one family.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156546_10151115560088811_914109970_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/156546_10151115560088811_914109970_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous blue water</td></tr></tbody></table>Since we couldn't go to other villages we went to take our "vacation" at the beach. Joie had planned some down time for us at Tubajon where we would swim and relax. We set up hammocks and swam with goggles looking at the reef and sea life. We had an amazing lunch with noodles, crab, fish, and of course rice (a staple in Southeast Asia) and some of the church members joined us.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524909_10151115560388811_951566369_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/524909_10151115560388811_951566369_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy! Crab! It was sooooo good!</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r90/391637_10151115560938811_1920983888_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/r90/391637_10151115560938811_1920983888_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our "vacation" spot</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552579_10151115561803811_1411674482_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552579_10151115561803811_1411674482_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After lunch we took a boat ride to another area where the coral ref was better and it was so amazing! I've never swam at a reef and the water was just beautiful. We had lots of fun with an underwater camera. (Unfortunately no one has posted any of those pictures so I can't share any of them with you.) We walked back to the village where all the kids were waiting for us. It was too dark to play anymore and we were so tired from being in the sun all day. We wanted to just sleep but we had dinner being prepared. We scarfed down some dinner (we hardly ate anything) and went back downstairs to get ready for bed. All the kids were outside watching. Some church members had shown up. But we didn't care. We were drained from the sun and swimming and we just wanted to sleep. So we did. For a few hours at least. We woke up bright and early to catch the ferry back to the main island. We had to check the night before to make sure it had arrived. We were afraid for a while that we were going to be stuck on the island for another day. But the ferry was there. Still exhausted we took our packs down to the docks and sat on the boat for a long time waiting to leave.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/928_10151115563678811_864872185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/928_10151115563678811_864872185_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SR team and Pastor Arnel and his wife</td></tr></tbody></table>The ferry had to go around one of the islands to stay out of the harsh waves so it ended up taking longer to get back to the main island. We got to see the sun rise. On this ride we were forced to go below into the passenger area because apparently it's illegal to ride on the top like we had been doing and we passed some authorities at one of the ports. I could NEVER ride down there for 4+ hours. That was terrible for even 15 minutes.<br /><br />We got back to Surigoa and hired a van to take us back to Butuan City. That was a really long van ride too. We all passed out in the van.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374121_10151115563798811_107123688_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/374121_10151115563798811_107123688_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We spent the night at Dottie's Place again. I wasn't feeling well so Daniel and I stayed at the hotel while Jeff and Randi went souvenir shopping. I finally started feeling better after an hour so we met up with them and picked up a few souvenirs in the mall and a local shop and then headed to dinner. We debriefed about our week with Joie and prayed over our trip and encounters with people. Then it was back to bed and up the next morning to go to the airport to head home!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/525869_10151115565263811_504685041_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/525869_10151115565263811_504685041_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to start the long trip home! </td></tr></tbody></table>We flew from Butuan back to Manilla where we had another short layover. Not long enough to get a hotel room, but too long to just sit in the airport. So we went to the Mall of Asia. Why not!? We had nothing better to do.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/46204_10151115565953811_1923114435_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/46204_10151115565953811_1923114435_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jeff, Randi, and I ate at an Italian restaurant while Daniel went to go see a movie. (Turns out he didn't get to see it and ended up walking around the mall for about an hour looking for us.) And then we headed back to the airport that evening to catch our plane for the long part of the trip back to the US.<br /><br />And that is the story of our trip the Philippines.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/9282_10151115562653811_897389341_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/9282_10151115562653811_897389341_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />This is something that I listened to while we were in the Philippines. It really hit home with why we were there and what God has called us to do. <br /><br /><b>Are we willing to be where Jesus is? Why would God reward our obedience with suffering and not prosperity? It's biblical.</b><br /><br /><b>&nbsp;Jesus wasn't clean or comfortable. He wasn't up scale. He calls us to go, not stay. He does not promise wealth or prosperity or health. If we follow Jesus, he went to the dirty, despised placed, he lied those who were unloveable, touched those who were untouchable and he paid for it. He was persecuted - threatened, mocked, beaten, and crucified.</b><br /><br /><b>&nbsp;So do we really want to be where Jesus is?</b><br /><br /><b>We won't get thanks, we may not be able to protect our family, it will be dirty, may be hostile. This is a struggle for most Christians.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>When Jesus called us to himself he did not call us to prosperity but to suffering. Deny yourself. Take up your cross. Follow me. Christ is all we need. That needs to be our focus.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>Suffering isn't just a consequence of obedience. It is a strategy of mission. If we are to show Christ to the world then we have to show the true Christ of scripture.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>Mission without suffering is Christianity without a cross.&nbsp;</b><br /><br /><b>- summarized parts from David Platt's sermon "Out of the Camp". Go listen to it. </b>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-31884751018157153062012-11-26T22:21:00.001-06:002013-04-24T22:51:35.458-05:00Liam is 16 Months Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/150560_587772743183_832009577_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/150560_587772743183_832009577_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />Missed a few months of updates on Liam's achievements and developmental skills so here we go. <br /><br />Signing: he can sign "more", "please", and "thank you". He does the sign for more the right way, but he has his own method of signing please and thank you. It's precious! He says the word for more but won't say please and thank you yet.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/18300_589987879033_302747255_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/18300_589987879033_302747255_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Words: Liam knows several words now. The ones we hear most are: eat, more, night night, Back (for Jack), Mama, Dada, Bye Bye (and waves), apple, wow, cracker, snack, hot, and ball. He has several words that he says that we have no clue what they mean yet. He talks up a storm.<br /><br />Favorite TV Shows: Backyardigans, Fresh Beat Band, Sesame Street, and Barney<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/28763_588697979003_634325875_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/28763_588697979003_634325875_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>&nbsp;He dances All. The. Time. Really, he does. He dances to music on the TV, in the car when the radio is on, to the music in his head as he walks and plays. <br /><br />He still takes two naps a day. Unless he's at mom's morning out. Then he gets one nap when we gets home.<br /><br />He has been sleeping with a blanket now. He loves to snuggle with it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63170_589027069503_677027613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63170_589027069503_677027613_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;He sleeps all night. Normally about 12 hours.<br /><br />He wakes up so happy in the mornings. He sings and talks to himself when he wakes up for about 30 minutes. Then we start hearing "Mama! Dada!"<br /><br />&nbsp;He loves the park. He thinks he's a big boy and tries to climb to the top of the big slides. He has no fear when it comes to the playground.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526280_590117294683_1793683620_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526280_590117294683_1793683620_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Favorite snacks are grapes, animal crackers, apples, honey nut cherrios, and vegetable sticks<br /><br />He listens to us now. Well, sometimes. He understands us at least. Some days he'll choose to listen and other days he won't. He understands take/bring ____ to mom/dad, give it to Jack, go to your chair, go to your bed, get your blanket/ball/cup, sit down on your bottom, pick up your leg/foot, and several other phrases.<br /><br />The only animal sound he knows is Quack. We say "what does a duck say?" and Liam answers "quack quack." We need to work on animal sounds more.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/533559_589634302603_1939530385_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p206x206/533559_589634302603_1939530385_n.jpg" /></a></div>He likes to use a spoon and fork to eat, but he's not very good at it.<br /><br />He loves giving big, open mouth kisses when you ask.<br /><br />His hugs are the best.<br /><br />He has 8 teeth in the front that are all grown in and two molars on top that are poking out.&nbsp; <br /><br />Size 3 diapers, 18 mo clothes, 5 shoes<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/222539_588481727373_499822680_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/222539_588481727373_499822680_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />He is absorbing so much lately! He is our little parrot when it comes to learning new words. He loves to laugh and will do just about anything to make us laugh with him. He's such a sweet little boy!&nbsp; <br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-73380212149714289722012-11-19T16:48:00.000-06:002013-04-24T22:52:01.525-05:00Latest Sewing CreationsI've been having so much fun with my sewing machine lately! I've been trying out some new things and I've bought a lot more appliques to embroider.<br /><br />One thing I've started doing is making my own burp clothes. The Gerber ones are great, but they are expensive so if I'm giving it as a gift or trying to make some money off it, it's not really worth it. So I bought a towel from Walmart and cut it up and add fabric. It works great and it seems like it would be super absorbent!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404996_589633788633_411301145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/404996_589633788633_411301145_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/21651_589634182843_898008475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/p206x206/21651_589634182843_898008475_n.jpg" /></a></div><br />I made my first hooded towel the other day for a little Bama fan.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/558774_589633753703_1049708800_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/558774_589633753703_1049708800_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558852_589633683843_2002171637_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/558852_589633683843_2002171637_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />A friend asked me to help with her family's Halloween costumes. I think the shirts turned out cute!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/36563_587255938863_913239935_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/36563_587255938863_913239935_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I have several friends who are on their second babies now so I was able to start doing some big/lil sibling shirts.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484945_588715463963_1416206635_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484945_588715463963_1416206635_n.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br />One of my favorite things that I've made lately is this cute little gown for a new little sister! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/318968_588715409073_1887631000_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/318968_588715409073_1887631000_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />I've done several appliques lately. Most are for the holidays but I can do just about anything! Keep those orders coming in! :) <br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-81357650688819601342012-11-19T16:35:00.000-06:002013-04-24T22:52:12.036-05:00Farmer LiamWe went with some of our neighbors to visit a farm/pumpkin patch at the end of October. We had looked at a few and decided that this farm was more age appropriate. It was called Country Critters. It had a petting zoo with farm animals, a horse ride, tractor ride, pumpkin patch, story time area, bounce houses, a playground, and lots of cute things to take pictures on. Liam had such a good time!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/487205_587922812443_1168815485_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/487205_587922812443_1168815485_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's excited about being a farmer and driving a lawn mower! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546823_587922947173_2056216664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546823_587922947173_2056216664_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing inside the wooden train.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/531043_587922987093_442974770_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/531043_587922987093_442974770_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a tractor ride! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/416875_587923146773_1618023449_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/416875_587923146773_1618023449_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He liked the big tractor. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254316_587923191683_1332068246_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254316_587923191683_1332068246_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time in a bounce house and he loved it! We had to make him get out. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/396239_587923441183_26644251_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/396239_587923441183_26644251_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing on the stage decorated as a farm. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/44473_587923845373_1526001917_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/44473_587923845373_1526001917_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He wasn't too interested in the pumpkins, but he sure loved that stick.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46541_587923960143_1406289948_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46541_587923960143_1406289948_n.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still holding on to the stick. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/21493_587924005053_1804559978_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/21493_587924005053_1804559978_n.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting pumpkins with his stick. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/76664_587924259543_231985916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/76664_587924259543_231985916_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">family photo</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/394076_587924324413_272239031_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/394076_587924324413_272239031_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First time to ride a horse! He did so good holding on! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523578_587924444173_444361337_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523578_587924444173_444361337_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with the farm animals. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/306578_587924533993_2126544951_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/306578_587924533993_2126544951_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He had such a busy morning! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-86057350158319942322012-11-19T16:19:00.003-06:002013-04-24T22:52:29.196-05:00Liam's Trip to OhioBack in September, Daniel went to Nicaragua for a week on a mission trip, so Liam and I decided to go see some family that he's never met. <br /><br />We flew from DFW to Birmingham and spent a few nights with my parents, then flew to Ohio. We stayed with my grandma in (one of) the houses he grew up in. The first night we had dinner with a bunch of family that came over to Grandma's. Liam met his older twin cousins and had fun playing with them.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557315_583439332373_1911199629_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557315_583439332373_1911199629_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the family at Grandma's</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/421759_583439616803_818098340_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/421759_583439616803_818098340_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They definitely have some Hamilton genes in them.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The next day we went to eat lunch with a bunch of the family at Spaghetti Warehouse and then Aunt Anne, Aunt Karen, Cousin Robin, Liam and I went to the Akron Zoo. It was Liam's first visit to the zoo! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/217822_583439711613_23194342_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/217822_583439711613_23194342_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560393_583439911213_1353670537_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560393_583439911213_1353670537_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/283107_583440006023_1022212586_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/283107_583440006023_1022212586_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He loves water</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643998_583440330373_1364179394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/643998_583440330373_1364179394_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">by the end, he was ready to go.</td></tr></tbody></table>The next day we spent with grandma and Dad. I don't remember what we actually did and I don't have any pictures to remind me. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550782_583924360373_2109263570_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/550782_583924360373_2109263570_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>On Thursday we took Liam to a park and had a picnic with my dad and grandma. He loves slides and swings.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/2496_583924390313_1268991833_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/2496_583924390313_1268991833_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/577133_583924455183_1702366449_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ground is tire scraps. Akron used to be a big tire town.</td></tr></tbody></table>On Thursday evening we all went over to my Aunt Karen's and had dinner together. We celebrated my dad's 60th birthday too!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/550404_583963387163_793314645_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/550404_583963387163_793314645_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375773_583963432073_1310888434_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375773_583963432073_1310888434_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aunt Anne and Uncle Butch</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/75149_583963457023_1702538014_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/75149_583963457023_1702538014_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Cousins! :) </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545833_583963501933_1845901846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545833_583963501933_1845901846_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cousins and their boys - Dan, Robin, Josh and Jake</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224413_583963566803_537068563_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224413_583963566803_537068563_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Keith and Aunt Sue</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400903_583963611713_398379874_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400903_583963611713_398379874_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma Hamilton </td></tr></tbody></table>So glad we got to spend time with this side of my family! Thanks for letting us come! A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-52444775386996612232012-11-05T04:08:00.001-06:002013-04-24T22:52:40.141-05:00So what do we do now? As the saying goes, when God closes a door, he opens a window.<br /><br />We are currently looking for our window. Most all of you who read this blog know about our desire to serve in international missions and to live overseas - specifically in South Asia. We moved to Fort Worth with the intent of Daniel going to seminary and getting a degree focused on international church planting and going with the SBC mission board for at least 3 years. We started the process with the anticipation of going to training in January. We missed the deadlines (because we were never told the deadlines) and got pushed back to April. This setback made me very sad and upset because we had nothing really keeping us in the US after December, but God gave us peace about staying in the US longer and we welcomed the extra months to spend with our family. We worked towards finishing our paperwork and there were still a few things that were up in the air about us being able to leave in April. We emailed our consultant last week and he told us it was too late to go in April that it was July now. I emailed a few more questions and he told us that we actually had until November 27th. Then I emailed him a few more questions this week and he said the earliest we can hope for at this time is October for training - which would mean not actually being overseas until late spring/early summer 2014. Frustrating to say the least. <br /><br />One of the main requirements to go with this organization is that within the last two years we had to have shared the gospel with someone and that person have come to know Christ within a year of us sharing with them. Daniel had that. I did not. I really didn't share the gospel a lot until this past spring. God convicted me and I began to share with a lot of people. Random ladies at the park, people I sat by on the airplane, doing door to door evangelism with my church, etc. But I never saw any decisions from those conversations. It was either a "no" or the person said that they were already a&nbsp; believer (and it's not my call as to whether they are or not - I'm just told to be faithful in sharing). And before any of you start telling me how silly that requirement is, I know, and I've heard that from everyone, but it is a requirement nonetheless and they have to have standards. So that's that.<br /><br />Another issue for us was Daniel's weight. He is by no means "fat" but they want him to lose 17lbs and he has to keep if off for 3 months before they will move us forward.<br /><br />&nbsp;I had told Daniel when they started talking about July that I felt like God was closing the door. I cried a lot. I prayed a lot. I told Daniel that if they pushed us back until July that we weren't supposed to go with them. Then we get the email that it will now be October at the earliest. I cried even more. It's so hard to watch God close a door that you've been working toward for the past 3 years. I'm crying as I write this. We've watched friends at the seminary breeze through the process and know when and where&nbsp;they are&nbsp;going before we were even allowed to talk about it. Everyone knows that we want to be overseas. That's all we've ever talked about. Whenever we meet people we tell them that we want to be missionaries. I just don't understand. We've had this all planned out and we knew where God was taking us. And now we have no clue. We're in limbo.<br /><br />We feel like our time in Fort Worth has ended. Daniel will change his concentration and get a different degree (the original degree requires us to go overseas for at least 2 years and that's obviously not happening at this time). He will most likely take some online classes next semester, possibly through a different seminary.&nbsp; Daniel wants to work for a church. Missions, church planting, pastoring, discipleship, whatever. He'll start sending out his resume soon. We would love to continue on with CARES in a different location too. <br /><br />Our pastor asked us on Sunday if we were at peace about this situation. We said yes. And he said that it's much better to not know what you're doing and be at peace about your situation in life than to not know and not be at peace. He had a point. We are thankful that God has given us a peace about what's going on and that we can trust in Him to provide our next step. <br />Will you pray with us? <br />Pray for our ministry as a family.<br />Pray for our upcoming move to wherever.<br />Pray for our job situation and finances. <br /><br />"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" -- Psalm 115:1<br /><br />"For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!" -- Psalm 117:2<br /><br />"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged." -- Deuteronomy 31:8A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-91314662611695973872012-11-04T08:24:00.001-06:002013-04-24T22:52:54.843-05:00A Long Weekend in MississippiBack when we had Liam's birthday party, two of Daniel's college friends' wives mentioned they would be having a baby shower in Starkville (Daniel's college town) one weekend in September. We immediately blocked that weekend off so we could go spend time with everyone in Starkville. We hadn't been there in 2 years. We invited my mom to come since she was just about an hour away and she came to visit and help with Liam. We stayed in a hotel across campus which was so nice because we could go on walks around the campus at night.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400955_584066410703_186562120_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/400955_584066410703_186562120_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadtrips to Mississippi have changed in the last few years. :)</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;We got there late Thursday night and getting Liam to bed was quite an ordeal since we were all in one room and there was no way to keep him from seeing us. He eventually went to bed though. On Friday, my mom and I drove to Columbus (my college town) and saw my friends Jenna and Maeghan, walked around the W (Mississppi University for Women, my alma mater) and visited my old BSU director.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/250750_584156530103_1854484582_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/250750_584156530103_1854484582_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam playing on the W's campus</td></tr></tbody></table>We shopped for a while in town and ate at one of my favorite restaurants, Cafe on Main. We drove back to Starkville and ate dinner at Old Venice (the place where Daniel and I had our first date! and where Daniel had his birthday meal for his 4 years of college). Saturday morning we got up and went to City Bagel for breakfast with Stacey and Zach. Saturday for lunch, we had the baby shower for Cari and Laura Beth at The Grille. I got to see so many girls that I made friendships with while dating Daniel. I also went to church&nbsp;with most&nbsp;all of them.&nbsp;It was really nice to catch up with everyone!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/398351_586611964393_1331253852_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/398351_586611964393_1331253852_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Beth with lil Shelby on the way! (She's here now, I can't wait to meet her!)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557638_586612039243_1228561778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557638_586612039243_1228561778_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cari and baby Addison on the way! </td></tr></tbody></table>When lunch was over, Daniel, Liam, and I went to FBC's playground to meet up with Lana (one of my college friends) and her husband and son and we let the boys play while the adults chatted.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/183882_586612258803_680251016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/183882_586612258803_680251016_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lana and John Mark - he is a week and a half younger than Liam.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We headed to our friends' tailgate after that. We found my friend Rachel Clair and got to catch up for a few minutes.&nbsp;Zach and Stacey had given us tickets for the game that night, so we sent Liam back to the hotel with my mom and we went to the game.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1046_586612293733_2550506_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1046_586612293733_2550506_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to ring his cowbell! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63178_586612308703_1020687840_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63178_586612308703_1020687840_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Daniel's lifelong dreams. :) </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/75615_586612428463_2014617914_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/75615_586612428463_2014617914_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet friends Zach and Stacey who gave us tickets to the game. They will always have a special place in our heart because they played a big part in the beginning of our relationship. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46566_586612503313_1324778947_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/46566_586612503313_1324778947_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mom and her favorite grandson.</td></tr></tbody></table>We left a little early so we could go get sushi at Umi's (one of our favorite places to eat besides Old Venice). We got it to go and went to Katie's house to visit with her. I spent MANY nights at Katie's when I would stay in Starkville too late and didn't want to drive home at night.<br /><br />We headed back to the hotel for the night and Sunday morning we got up and drove to Hattiesburg to stay with Emily and Justin and their little girl. The kids had so much fun together! They were so cute! Lydia and Jared came over that night for dinner so we got to see them. So many people in one weekend!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552674_586612568183_17906011_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552674_586612568183_17906011_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eden Grace and Liam playing.</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/534659_586612618083_810051991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/534659_586612618083_810051991_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Totally their idea. Really. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557641_586612732853_603572462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557641_586612732853_603572462_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lydia and Jared - they are going to be awesome parents! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/32330_586612862593_1433450952_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/32330_586612862593_1433450952_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to get everyone to cooperate. Fail. </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557788_586612977363_915692109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/557788_586612977363_915692109_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are two babies in this picture! Emily is due in December and Lydia in November. </td></tr></tbody></table>We really did get to see *just about* all of our close friends from our college days! I wish I had taken pictures with everyone.<br /><br />Before we headed home we stopped by Pelahatchie to meet our new baby cousin, Ian! Isn't he handsome?<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/416880_586613196923_1775685854_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/416880_586613196923_1775685854_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Ian</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Such a blessed weekend! A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-17291965419561151892012-10-31T16:21:00.003-05:002013-04-24T22:53:09.354-05:00A Day at the Zoo I love having Daniel home so that we can enjoy days like this TOGETHER as a family! Daniel had a great idea the other day to go to the Ft Worth Zoo. Wednesdays are half price days so that made it even better! We decided to let Liam skip his second nap for the sake of fun. After he woke from his first nap, we fed him and loaded him and the stroller in the car. He didn't really care about anything when he was sitting in the stroller (except for his snacks) but when we would take him out and hold him to look at all the animals he started to enjoy the trip! <br /><br />We took our new zoom lens for our camera and we got some great pictures! (at least we think so)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557802_586614484343_224803394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/557802_586614484343_224803394_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/73915_586615347613_1347413234_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/73915_586615347613_1347413234_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/315523_586614763783_70685367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/315523_586614763783_70685367_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His favorite part about the zoo! He loves birds! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560307_586614848613_385803845_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560307_586614848613_385803845_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552294_586615487333_1808979373_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/552294_586615487333_1808979373_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/66263_586614619073_1984151394_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/66263_586614619073_1984151394_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185126_586614539233_289784097_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/185126_586614539233_289784097_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-80992771103687387002012-10-04T16:26:00.000-05:002013-04-24T22:53:21.490-05:00September - Fall is Here! Well, the season is here, the weather is not. We had a few days of nice weather and then it disappeared. Liam is now 14 months old. Here's an update:<br />Liam and I flew to Ohio (along with my dad)&nbsp;so that Liam could meet my dad's side of the the family for the first time (see other post for&nbsp;more&nbsp;pictures!)<br />While in Ohio, Liam went to his first zoo.<br />&nbsp;When we were in Ohio, Daniel was in Nicaragua working with Living Water and digging a well for a community. <br />Liam's favorite book is a foam book of barnyard animals where the animals pop out - like a puzzle. He loves to sit and turn pages.<br />He officially weaned now. He drinks organic whole milk from a sippy cup (with a straw) now. <br />He sleeps with a blanky now. He loves to snuggle with a soft blanket.<br />He puts himself to sleep without fussing at all (we still have nights that are worse than others occasionally). We finally established a bedtime routine which helped with him being fussy. We sing Jesus Loves Me and say a bedtime prayer. Love my Jesus time with Liam! :)<br /><br />No pictures for this post. Haven't been able to upload them. Maybe one day... <br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-49250203753678928502012-10-04T16:24:00.000-05:002013-04-24T22:53:39.929-05:0013 Month Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/298734_581687622813_1608097818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/298734_581687622813_1608097818_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam at his 12 month check up - which was really at 13 months. </td></tr></tbody></table>At 13 months he weighed <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">22lbs 4oz (25%) and 31.5 inches long (85%).</span></span>Liam has learned to run<br />He is in a Mothers Day Out program on Tuesdays<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562872_581526400903_805780061_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562872_581526400903_805780061_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539490_581526425853_1516649026_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/539490_581526425853_1516649026_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />He loves to terrorize Jack. He beats him with toys and pulls his fur constantly. <br />We started some cloth diapering, not exclusively, but we're working into it.<br />We began the process of weaning. He is only nursing at night. I am so sad about stopping. I didn't think I would be. <br />He had his first trip to the beach. <br />He got to welcome his new little buddy Ford into the world!<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/419909_581525622463_1685922401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/419909_581525622463_1685922401_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for Ford to get here! </td></tr></tbody></table>He got to go to the Museum of Science and History (basically a kids hands-on museum) with some sweet friends of ours! He had a blast playing in the hospital, grocery store, dinosaur room, and the grossology exhibit.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533017_581525782143_1963533636_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533017_581525782143_1963533636_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420018_581525817073_454975439_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420018_581525817073_454975439_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/303595_581526106493_122697171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/303595_581526106493_122697171_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, he's sitting in "poo"</td></tr></tbody></table>He LOVES to dance! He just stands in front of the TV when there is music and sways or turns circles. I want to know where he learned that dancing means turning in circles? <br />His favorite TV shows lately are the Backyardigans and Barney.<br />And some cute pictures. :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431502_581526241223_390945028_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/431502_581526241223_390945028_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431017_581526455793_1953217686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/431017_581526455793_1953217686_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/283174_583437236573_42144425_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/283174_583437236573_42144425_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/392462_583437376293_857334198_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/392462_583437376293_857334198_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The LORD is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?<br />Psalm 27:1 <br /><br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-24553243100335871832012-08-27T15:59:00.001-05:002013-04-24T22:53:59.357-05:00Braycation 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/387160_579705709583_365623731_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/387160_579705709583_365623731_n.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>Catchy name right? Haha. The first week of August we went to Anna Maria Island in Florida to visit some friends of ours (David and Natalie Moss) that used to be here in Fort Worth at SWBTS but moved to NC to attend SEBTS. We hadn't seen them in a year&nbsp; (Since Liam was only a week or so old) and they had since had their own little girl, Hannah, who is almost 6 months old. They were going to go stay with family and they invited us to join them. Such a blessing to take a beach vacation, spend time with friends, and not have to pay for a hotel/condo AND their family fed us a lot of our meals.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/561175_579705599803_869996890_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/561175_579705599803_869996890_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/625562_579666802553_804300985_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/625562_579666802553_804300985_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />We flew to Tampa late Tuesday night. Liam did great on the flights. Our jump from Dallas to Houston was easy and only about 30 minutes. Then our flight to Tampa we got to sit in the bulkhead just the 3 of us, so it was nice to have room where Liam could play. Liam fell asleep right before we landed in Tampa. We got our bags and our rental car and hit the road. We got to Anna Maria around 1am.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/396941_579666428303_113849927_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/396941_579666428303_113849927_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />On Wednesday we hit the beach. The beach we went to had a strip of water that you waded through, then a patch of sand, then the ocean. The little ones really enjoyed the strip of water because there were no waves involved. Liam hated the beach at first. He didn't like the water coming up to him. He eventually settled in and started to enjoy it. We spent a few hours there and then headed back to the house to clean up and have dinner. We also played lots of card games during our time with our friends. SkipBo and a game called Peaunut, and we also tried out a game called Last Words. We used to always play games with the Mosses when they lived in FW so it was nice to do that again.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/384627_579666597963_70492214_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/384627_579666597963_70492214_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/580932_579667077003_206652870_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/580932_579667077003_206652870_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The sunsets on the island were incredible. We really enjoyed going out most nights to watch the sunset.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/385497_579705480043_589075401_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/385497_579705480043_589075401_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/385499_579705809383_1913853513_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/385499_579705809383_1913853513_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Basically our week was spent on the beach, swimming in the water, walking into town, eating some really good seafood, playing games, and watching sunsets. Not a bad way to spend a week, right? :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/551156_579829935633_157625731_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/551156_579829935633_157625731_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/540330_579829770963_1849639495_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/540330_579829770963_1849639495_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/418973_579830030443_1796431307_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/418973_579830030443_1796431307_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br />Our flight left from Tampa early Tuesday morning so we decided to spend Monday night in Tampa. We went to the Tampa Aquarium a soon as we got into town. So. Much. Fun! Liam had a blast! They also had a little splash park at the aquarium so we took him out there to play. A storm rolled in when we were drying off so we headed to the hotel and ordered some really yummy Thai Food!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552148_581524819073_524058443_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552148_581524819073_524058443_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579943_581524863983_1124187679_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579943_581524863983_1124187679_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386971_581524898913_929243_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386971_581524898913_929243_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375798_581525018673_1734965828_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375798_581525018673_1734965828_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/486604_581525058593_1001455723_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/486604_581525058593_1001455723_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Such a fun family vacation! So thankful for the chance to go to Florida and spend time with our friends and their family! <br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-43154710370058207352012-08-09T07:58:00.002-05:002013-04-24T22:55:43.873-05:00Happy 1st Birthday Liam!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/564647_578893137983_1749417465_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/564647_578893137983_1749417465_n.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/376190_578893147963_36830441_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/376190_578893147963_36830441_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/482055_578893167923_362401236_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/482055_578893167923_362401236_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;Our sweet boy is officially a one year old as of July 23rd. I. can. not. believe. it. Daniel and I were talking today about how we we've survived 5 years with each other, and one of that included raising a child. Crazy talk. I can't believe we've been married for 3 years and have a 1 year old now. <br /><br />Back to Liam's birthday. :)<br /><br />We drove to Mississippi on Friday, the 20th and got in late that evening. Just enough time for Daniel's parents to hug and kiss Liam and then we put him to bed. On Saturday, Daniel, Nathan, and I went to see Spiderman and then I started preparing for Liam's party. Sunday we went to church and then came home to finish decorating.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/406299_578890478313_1887267084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s720x720/406299_578890478313_1887267084_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Family started showing up around 1:30 even though the party didn't start until 3:00. Everyone wanted special time with Liam. Some of our friends drove over to celebrate Liam's birthday. The Gaunts came from New Orleans, the Williams from Vicksburg, the Kinseys from Clinton and Scott from the Jackson area too. Mine and Daniel's freshman roomates were both there. :) Most all of the Bray family was there too! My parents weren't able to come over for the party though. We opened presents and ate some good food that all the grandmas fixed.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/182138_578890004263_2081828299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/182138_578890004263_2081828299_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/551201_578891356553_1587941719_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s720x720/551201_578891356553_1587941719_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;Liam got to play with his own personal cake (which was soooo good by the way!) and when he was finished playing with it, we stripped him down and put him in a baby pool out back to wash off.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/182121_578892050163_2052035184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/182121_578892050163_2052035184_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/394696_578892115033_1816163157_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/s720x720/394696_578892115033_1816163157_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Everyone left except for our friends from MS State and we all hung out at the pool for a while catching up. Then we and the Williams headed to Mugshots to meet our friend Clay for dinner.<br /><br />On Monday (Liam's&nbsp;real birthday!)&nbsp;I drove to Tuscaloosa to have a little celebration with my family. My mom, dad, Liam and I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate Liam's birthday. He got to eat tortillas, rice, a banana, and fajita chicken. :) Then we went over to see my grandmother at the nursing home. Liam had his own little smash the cake party in one of the community rooms but he had no interest in eating the cake. He just threw it around and stepped in it. Fun times. Then mom and I took Liam shopping for a few birthday presents. She bought a portable DVD player for him. I swore I would let him have one of those for the car but then I did. Oh well. It made riding in the car with him for 2.5 hours much nicer. After shopping we went back to my parents' home and let Liam open a few more gifts. He wanted to play with my old toys more than open presents. As soon as we were done opening presents we hit the road again to go back to MS. Short and sweet visit.<br /><br />On Tuesday I met&nbsp;my friend Brooke and her precious baby boy Watson for lunch. Then&nbsp;Daniel and I went to see the new Batman movie.We got home and there were lots of grandparents over wanting to spend time with Liam. Liam had such a good birthday and he was showered with love from everyone.<br /><br />Notable events from his birthday party:<br />We had to give him a cracker to keep him happy while I made everyone at the party take a picture with him.<br />Some of his favorite gifts (at the party, he's enjoyed them all once he had the chance to explore everything): a sippy cup, a baseball hat, and two bouncy balls. It doesn't take much to please this child. <br />He ate cake. And a lot of it. <br />Liam loved the wooden chair that Daniel's Pop built for him when he was a little boy. Liam would go over and sit down in it and just squeal with glee and bouce up and down. We all would look and ooh and ahh and clap and he would get even more excited. So stinkin' cute!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/523720_578665948273_77716584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/523720_578665948273_77716584_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;We went swimming in MaMaw's pool.<br />He enjoyed exploring the nursing home and making all the sweet ladies smile. <br />He also enjoyed watching Elmo the entire ride back to Pelahatchie from Tuscaloosa. <br /><br />We have been so blessed to call this little boy ours. We thank God for him every day and we pray that we are teaching him about Christ's love through our actions and words. He has been such a joy to our family! He's pretty much the coolest 1 year old we've ever met. He has so much personality and charisma. He loves to clap and yell when he's excited about something. He's too smart for his own good sometimes. He likes to do things that we say "no" to and when we tell him "no" he looks at us and smiles that toothy grin and does it anyway. (The Lord is working on our patience with him.) We've had to lock every cabinet in our house and keep all doors closed, otherwise he will pull everything out. He's such a special little boy and we are so blessed to have him in our life. We love you Liam!A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-52875641836101091292012-07-09T13:55:00.002-05:002013-04-24T22:54:25.002-05:00A Crazy Two Weeks in JuneOur life was turned upside down recently.<br /><br />As many of you know, I quit my job as a full time RN to work PRN (as needed) in the float pool (I can work anywhere in the hospital depending on where the need is) and I only have to work 4 days a month. I was able to work 3 shifts after going back to Fort Worth from our trip to Tuscaloosa. On Thursday (6/7) my mom called and said they were moving my grandmother to Hospice. She'd been in the hospital for a few days, went back home for one night, and went right back to the hospital. Her heart has had multiple issues for some time and the doctors just said there wasn't a whole lot they do medically anymore. I booked a plane ticket that afternoon and was in Tuscaloosa around 6:30 that evening. Liam came with me. My Mimmie was so excited to see us. That weekend she was actually doing really well. They have taken her off most of her normal medicines and have been giving her some medicines to help keep her comfortable.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/8055_575784313093_39060835_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/8055_575784313093_39060835_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just after I washed and fixed her hair - I think I did pretty good! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582060_576172430303_1042309433_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582060_576172430303_1042309433_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She LOVED watching Liam play!</td></tr></tbody></table>Monday night I was talking with Daniel and he had to get off the phone to take another call. He called me back and was very upset. He had lost his job. This is the job that was the reason I quit my full time job. This was the job that was providing a comfortable living for us. This was the job that allowed us to book plane tickets to go see our friends in Florida this August. This was the job that was a blessing from the Lord at the time and we were so grateful for it. However, this is also the job that the Lord has now allowed to be&nbsp;taken away from us. God is teaching us through this experience. In my opinion, we weren't using His blessing in the way that we should have been. We were spending a lot of money, having more fun with the money than giving back and using it for God's glory. So God humbled us. Thankfully I didn't quit my job like I had planned to - for some reason I felt selfish and just couldn't stop working all together. I think that was God preparing us for this situation.<br /><br />Daniel decided to come home to Pelahatchie that Tuesday since he no longer had to work that week. I joined him on Wednesday - our 3 year anniversary! We talked more about our situation and what we were going to do. It's basically been decided that I will continue to work and just pick up a few extra days at work as needed to support ourselves. We've completely re-budgeted and we're going to be sticking to that. I will keep sewing and hopefully start selling some things one day&nbsp;and Daniel will continue to do some woodworking. And we will spend more time doing ministry and preparing for the mission field overseas.<br /><br />So on our anniversary we went to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant in Ridgeland - Biaggi's. Then we went to GiGi's cupcakes and got dessert. Followed by a movie - Snow White and the Huntsman. Daniel's parents watched Liam and it was nice to have a date night! My MIL even kept Liam that night so I could sleep!<br /><br />I stayed in MS until Saturday. On Friday night we met our friends, the Trussells, the Williams, Clay and Matthew at C'Paws for dinner and then we went to get yogurt. It was great to catch up with them!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306955_575784123473_1506972118_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306955_575784123473_1506972118_n.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/306955_575784123473_1506972118_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292410_575784213293_1587866479_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292410_575784213293_1587866479_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/532456_575784183353_1187915850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/532456_575784183353_1187915850_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255391_575783514693_903136862_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/255391_575783514693_903136862_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529443_575784068583_760661417_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529443_575784068583_760661417_n.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br />On Saturday, Liam and I drove back to AL while Daniel and Jack headed back to TX. Daniel was supposed to leave the next morning for a mission trip with Living Water to Nicaragua. Unfortunately, Daniel wasn't able to find his passport Saturday night so he couldn't go. Another upset. Praise the Lord though, Living Water just canceled his plane ticket and told him to call them when ever he wants to go because he's already paid! So we didn't lose all that money. We're still trying to figure out what the Lord is doing in this situation. I know He'll reveal it in His time. So instead of me staying AL&nbsp;until he got back from Nicaragua, Liam and I headed&nbsp;home early to be with Daniel. We need to be a family and pray together and seek God's guidance.<br /><br />Since all of this my grandmother has been doing well and she was moved to a nursing home a week or so ago. I'm glad that we got to be there for a week and a half to spend time with her and I was able to help my mom out some. Liam brought a bunch of smiles to some very sad people at Hospice. The nurses absolutely loved him.<br /><br />I've been looking at the job loss as a blessing in disguise. Daniel and I will have more time together. We can focus more on ministry opportunities. We can travel whenever and wherever. He gets to be at home with Liam more and watch him grow. So yeah. God gives. And He takes away. It's part of life. We just need to keep praising Him through the storms of life and giving Him all the glory.A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-52090658887968692852012-07-09T13:42:00.001-05:002013-04-24T22:54:08.338-05:00Learning to SewAbout 3 months ago, a friend posted on Facebook that she was selling her sewing/embroidery machine. I'd been considering buying one for a while because I have a bunch of friends that make super cute things and I have a bunch of friends that are pregnant and I would love to make them cute things. So I bought it. It's a Brother SE400 and I love it! I started out trying out some simple appliques on some old onesies for a friend who is fostering a little girl. Here's some pictures of things that I've been working on. I've made LOTS of mistakes and I'm definitely not a seamstress yet, but I've been enjoying the easy appliques and I'm slowly venturing into actual sewing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578454_569614931583_1183491830_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578454_569614931583_1183491830_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546292_569620345733_712428294_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546292_569620345733_712428294_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582815_569619382663_1981337050_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/582815_569619382663_1981337050_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541983_572246133633_30618942_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541983_572246133633_30618942_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575658_574659267693_600560736_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/575658_574659267693_600560736_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/166018_574659387453_742787367_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/166018_574659387453_742787367_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292562_574659437353_1521335456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292562_574659437353_1521335456_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/168883_10100397577513336_1649108537_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/168883_10100397577513336_1649108537_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-27351440732799084352012-07-09T13:37:00.001-05:002013-04-24T22:54:54.422-05:00Liam's now 11 Months Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/403859_576171417333_578667787_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/403859_576171417333_578667787_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Well, he's been 11 months for a few weeks now, I just forgot to upload this post.<br /><br />Accomplishments of Liam over the past month: <br />Walking everywhere<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306916_575783714293_2097961496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/306916_575783714293_2097961496_n.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Already learning to run away from the girls :)</td></tr></tbody></table>Crawling on top of everything<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/600356_576171971223_1875171999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/600356_576171971223_1875171999_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Loves to open cabinets and drawers in the kitchen. Apparently we still haven't baby-proofed enough. <br />Ear infection FREE! Praise God! No tubes! (Yet)<br />Can now drink through a straw<br />Took another airplane ride back to Alabama (And spent lots of time with Mimmie and GiGi!)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/295385_576172385393_2080889276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/295385_576172385393_2080889276_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>First car ride with just mommy that was longer than just a quick errand. We drove from Tuscaloosa to Pelahatchie and back.<br />&nbsp;Still in size 2 diaper - I don't think this kid's butt is ever going to grow<br />12 month clothes<br />Size 4 shoes <br />No new teeth this month<br />Enjoyed his first trip to a Drive-In Movie!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/535043_576171631903_509831868_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/535043_576171631903_509831868_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;First bought of diarrhea - just what you wanted to know right? Apparently he got some sort of virus for about 5 days.<br />Speaking of that... he also loves to play in the toilets. And with toilet paper. He took a bit out of a roll the other day like it was an apple. <br />My kid also has a fetish with my flip flops. Gross.&nbsp; <br />Says "Ma Ma" "Da Da" "Back" "Me Me" "Bye Bye" "Ba-by" "Be-Bah" "Hi" and likes to mimic any simple words that someone says to him. <br />Loves to wave at people and say "bye bye" when saying hello or bye<br />&nbsp;Loves my old toys that have strings on them so he can pull them around when he walks. This also applies to shoes and their laces. <br />Did I mention that he is walking!? He's not longer a baby, he's officially a toddler.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252605_575784253213_1115043133_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/252605_575784253213_1115043133_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't get to spend Father's Day with Daniel, so we sent him this picture.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403859_576171417333_578667787_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><b><b>1 John 3:1</b> “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”</b><br /><br /><br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-46491816714633518322012-06-17T17:49:00.001-05:002013-04-24T22:55:06.170-05:0010 Months Old!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/485438_310404125708860_1477425826_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/485438_310404125708860_1477425826_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam at 9 months</td></tr></tbody></table>This last month has been full of fun milestones for Liam! <br /><br />He started taking steps - one here, one there - he's so ready to start walking! (and he did just shortly after he turned 10 months)<br />He took his first airplane ride.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547878_572353214043_1274731542_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547878_572353214043_1274731542_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We spent some time in Northport with my parents and grandma.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526699_572353388693_1414021156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526699_572353388693_1414021156_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579568_574103880693_1603526058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579568_574103880693_1603526058_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560045_574103925603_971344830_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560045_574103925603_971344830_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />He finally met his friends Eden Grace and John Mark - and a few of my closest friends from the W.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487179_572359516413_1684548802_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/487179_572359516413_1684548802_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;He finally met some of my best friends in Northport.&nbsp; <br />6 teeth. And still teething. It'll never stop.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/318158_568291443863_1818435699_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/318158_568291443863_1818435699_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was when the top ones were just starting to poke out</td></tr></tbody></table>He loves the swimming pool. He's been to it several times. He loves to kick&nbsp;in the water&nbsp;and chew on his rubber duckies. I can't wait to just dunk him (after his ears are finished being infected).<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/524895_572353089293_700832384_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/524895_572353089293_700832384_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st day at the pool - he LOVED it! (And how cute is he?)</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;Speaking of ear infections, he was diagnosed with another one this month. That makes 3 total.<br />He's trying to hard to climb up onto the couch. He just about has it.<br />He's been eating more solids. And loves it. He likes to feed himself.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579628_572353074323_515239728_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/579628_572353074323_515239728_a.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp;Loves playing in the kitchen while I'm cooking or cleaning. The trashcan is one of his favorites. Also the drawers where he pulls out all the kitchen utensils. And the dishwasher. He plays with the silverware.&nbsp; I can't keep him out of anything.<br />Still loves Jack. Jack tolerates him.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/149371_572353174123_970961524_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/149371_572353174123_970961524_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />On to family news - we are continuing on with the process for overseas missions! We went to the expo (job fair) and were asked to continue with the process. Which means LOTS of paperwork. The paperwork includes writing about ourselves and our beliefs, dental clearance, medical clearance, references galore, education, vaccinations, all that jazz. It's been fun! I've had the opportunity to share with quite a few people recently and the Lord has blessed me through these experiences.<br /><b><br /></b><b><span class="text Matt-28-16"><sup class="versenum">16&nbsp;</sup>Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.</span> <span class="text Matt-28-17" id="en-ESV-24209"><sup class="versenum">17&nbsp;</sup>And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.</span> <span class="text Matt-28-18" id="en-ESV-24210"><sup class="versenum">18&nbsp;</sup>And Jesus came and said to them, <span class="woj"> “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.</span></span> <span class="text Matt-28-19" id="en-ESV-24211"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">19&nbsp;</sup> Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in<sup class="footnote" value="[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-ESV-24211a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;/a&gt;]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+28%3A16-20&amp;version=ESV#fen-ESV-24211a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,</span></span> <span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-ESV-24212"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">20&nbsp;</sup>teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”</span></span></b><br /><b><span class="text Matt-28-20" id="en-ESV-24212"><span class="woj">Matthew 28:16-20 </span></span></b>A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-20649105247275690872012-06-06T12:20:00.002-05:002013-04-24T22:55:27.165-05:00Vacation to T-townDaniel decided to take a Maymester class at the seminary (a class that is normally throughout an entire semester condensed into one week), so on Mother's day, Liam and I took a flight from Dallas to Birmingham to spend a few days with my parents in Tuscaloosa. It was Liam's first plane ride! He did fabulous! It was an early morning flight so we had to leave the apartment around 5:30am. I sat in the back seat and poked Liam to keep him awake so that he would sleep when we got to the airport. He wasn't very happy with me. When we got to the airport there was way to much going on so he wasn't a bit tired. Traveling with an infant is awesome because everyone lets you cut lines. We cut in front of about 50 people waiting to go through security.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/546418_571313138363_598730422_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/s720x720/546418_571313138363_598730422_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to board the plane!</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;We flew Southwest and they don't do assign seats. You get a umber and you get on the plane in that order. So you just grab whatever seat you want. I got to cut in front of 58 people for that too. I met a couple traveling with their 8 month old son and we decided to sit together. There weren't 3 seats together, so I sat next to a grandma and the mom of the 8 month old while her husband sat across the aisle. I nursed Liam during takeoff and he fell asleep, he woke up about 30 minutes before landing, and then I nursed him again during landing. No problems!<br /><br />My friend Erika picked us up from the airport and we went to Panera for breakfast and then my dad picked us up at Panera.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553381_572353268933_1095651051_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/553381_572353268933_1095651051_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;My friends Faith and Betsy came over that afternoon to meet Liam.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555305_572353348773_163200043_31092870_1976879715_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555305_572353348773_163200043_31092870_1976879715_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to bribe him with puffs to sit still long enough to get a picture.</td></tr></tbody></table>And then my Mimmie came over for dinner that night. On Monday Liam and I went to my Mimmie's new home (which is in a different assisted-living facility) to visit and Liam crawled all over her bedroom and gave her so much joy. :) It was nice to see her smile and laugh a bit.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526699_572353388693_1414021156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/526699_572353388693_1414021156_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweetest picture ever.</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;We went to visit my friend Ashley and her 2 little ones after that and then had lunch with my mom. Then the shopping began. Liam did great! He doesn't ride in a stroller too much these days, but he loved it. We went to Dirt Cheap and I bought a bunch of onesies to monogram and applique (I've started sewing in case you didn't know... more on that some other time). Liam fell asleep in Shoe Station so we laid him down in the stroller and found other stores to go look around in. I enjoyed Taco Casa for dinner. Yum yum yum.<br /><br />On Tuesday, around lunchtime my best friend from college, Emily, and her little girl, Eden Grace, came over from Hattiesburg. We met at McCalister's, watched the kids interact, came back to my mom's and let the kids nap and play.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551739_572353493483_1951937456_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/551739_572353493483_1951937456_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />That evening other college friends came over from MS (Maeghan and Lana, and Lana's little boy, John Mark and we met up with a mentor from college (Wahnee) and wet to Kobe for Hibachi. I don't guess any of us thought about the fact that we had 3 little ones all 9-10 months and that they hadn't experienced anything like that. The first clang of a cooking utensil on the grill from the table next to us sent one of the kids wailing and the other two with frightened looks. Our cook was nice enough to not do the typical show and just cook our food. The kids enjoyed watching the other tables eventually, but they had to get used to the noise first. It turned out just fine in the end. :) We stood outside and took pictures with the babies and then came back to my parent's so the kids could go to sleep and we could talk some more. Yeah, right. The kids were wide awake until about 10:30pm. Emily and Eden grace stayed the night and the others went back to MS.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/403539_571708401253_1954639960_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/403539_571708401253_1954639960_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibachi with 9 month old babies - not one of our best ideas to start with, but it turned out just fine! </td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/534204_572359481483_1076855245_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/534204_572359481483_1076855245_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 friends and their "babies"</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/556163_572359576293_309421813_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/556163_572359576293_309421813_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These friendships all started thanks to the lady in the middle. :)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/542868_572359995453_1018095689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/542868_572359995453_1018095689_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PJ party! </td></tr></tbody></table><br />On Wednesday morning Emily and EG left after breakfast (and a frantic search for missing keys which were in a place that both Emily and I had already searched) and then Mom and I went shopping. That's what we do when we get together. Shop. Liam did great again, slept for about an hour and a half in the stroller. He's such a good kid. Liam played with some old toys of mine (the telephone - remember those?) He took quite a few steps around the living room. (one or two each time) Wednesday night, we walked over to a neighbor's house to go swimming. GiGi wanted to see how much of a fish Liam already is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484180_574103691073_274481955_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/484180_574103691073_274481955_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375971_574103765923_15821418_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/375971_574103765923_15821418_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On Thursday before we left, mom's preschool had a luncheon at Cypress Inn. Liam and I joined them and we had a great time catching up with some of the ladies she works with. And of course, we enjoyed the food, too! :) Mom and Liam got to take a few pictures, but mom was already crying just thinking about us leaving in a few hours.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/165958_574103810833_2013221668_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/165958_574103810833_2013221668_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam enjoyed playing with the fish in the aquarium.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579568_574103880693_1603526058_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/579568_574103880693_1603526058_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>&nbsp;We flew home Thursday evening. Liam did ok on the plane ride. He slept the entire way to the airport, therefore he wasn't sleepy on the plane. We sat next to two young women who were teachers so they understood. :) We ate puffs, yogurt bites, crackers, and everything else that I could find in my bag. He nursed during takeoff but wouldn't nurse during landing and he wouldn't take a bottle so we put some formula in a sippy cup and he sipped on that for a big. He mostly just ate during landing, but the pressure didn't seem to bother him. Daniel was very happy to see us! A week away from each other is long time. <br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6452840358864411189.post-6326356104297211782012-05-17T10:45:00.002-05:002012-05-17T10:45:18.902-05:009 months old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XlxWjrMWD0/T7UWMxQlatI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/2kVLxzDItjQ/s1600/IMG_8267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XlxWjrMWD0/T7UWMxQlatI/AAAAAAAAAkQ/2kVLxzDItjQ/s320/IMG_8267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>18 lbs 10 oz (22%) and 29.25 inches long (84%) at his 9 month checkup. Doctor said everything is great developmentally. And double ear infections... Again. yay for round two of antibiotics. <br />Loves fruit! Grapes and blue berries especially.<br /> <br />Favorite toys: a stuffed duck that quacks, his jumparoo, tupperware, Jack<br />Getting his top teeth in - 4 of them!<br />Taking a few steps here and there, no walking yet.<br />Very vocal! Calls Jack something similar to "Back" and calls for him all the time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sA06qGowUs/T7UXxCflThI/AAAAAAAAAoY/XWVts32DKGw/s1600/IMG_8363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sA06qGowUs/T7UXxCflThI/AAAAAAAAAoY/XWVts32DKGw/s320/IMG_8363.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />Loves going to the park for our playdates with friends.<br />He's all boy and crawls all over the other kids.<br />EVERYTHING goes in the mouth. Doesn't matter what it is.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MeFgb1uGKCw/T7UYLwk_XLI/AAAAAAAAApo/OtL4la4BHsM/s1600/IMG_8385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MeFgb1uGKCw/T7UYLwk_XLI/AAAAAAAAApo/OtL4la4BHsM/s320/IMG_8385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Loves the toilet. Really, he's fascinated with it. He has played in the water. Beats on the top. and plays with the little knobs on the bottom of it. Gross. Very gross. Worse than when he plays with the trashcan.<br />Loves blueberries and grapes.<br />Uses the jumparoo for exercise in the mornings while mom and dad try to wake up.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dMEwwLLaba8/T7UYcWuyBbI/AAAAAAAAAqg/_xB2Uj4CoPE/s1600/IMG_8396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dMEwwLLaba8/T7UYcWuyBbI/AAAAAAAAAqg/_xB2Uj4CoPE/s320/IMG_8396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumping makes him tired.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>He's been going to sleep at 8:30ish each night, therefore he wakes up around 7:30.<br />Still wakes up a few times during the night. We're ok with that though. Extra snuggle time.<br />Starting to wear 12 month clothes. 6 months are put away, most of the 9 months are winter so we just moved on to 12 months.<br />Size 2 diapers.<br />Size 3 shoes (and outgrowing those fast!)<br />Loves to watch Blues Clues.<br />Celebrated his first Easter and participated in his first Easter egg hunt.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WeXGxnfBPHk/T7UZC48OWlI/AAAAAAAAAro/piD3IeA3Uow/s1600/IMG_8418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WeXGxnfBPHk/T7UZC48OWlI/AAAAAAAAAro/piD3IeA3Uow/s320/IMG_8418.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />I guess the biggest thing to happen during month 8 was Easter. Daniel's mom, dad, and brother Nathan came into town for the weekend. Of course, I had to work Friday and Sunday night. Saturday morning we hosted a CARES event for our residents which included a nice Brunch and Easter egg hunt for the kids. Liam got to participate by sitting in the grass between two eggs and reaching for them. Not much of a hunter yet, more like a gatherer. Daniel's family got into town shortly after the event ended and I went to bed for a few hours. We took them to Fuzzy's tacos for dinner and they spent the evening playing with Liam and video games. Sunday was Easter and Daniel, Liam and I went to church even though Liam was slightly sick that morning. I just wore him in the Ergo carrier on my back while we served in Children's Church. We got home and had a huge lunch and invited the Joostens and Wiggins. Chicken, ribs, potato salad, green beans, mac and cheese, homemade bread, and yummy desserts. And then I went to bed again. Haha. That Sunday night I started to loose my voice and it just went downhill from there. It's been 5 weeks now and I'm still 100% after multiple meds and doctors visits. Liam has been up and down in the sick department since then too.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dS5SUCen9oc/T7UYsh-QIII/AAAAAAAAArI/II7UQAKCXpw/s1600/Easter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dS5SUCen9oc/T7UYsh-QIII/AAAAAAAAArI/II7UQAKCXpw/s320/Easter.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Sunday - Liam looks terrible. :(</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XCwrc1-xwo/T7UYe7QmtEI/AAAAAAAAAqo/v5KVC7V1Wbk/s1600/IMG_8400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XCwrc1-xwo/T7UYe7QmtEI/AAAAAAAAAqo/v5KVC7V1Wbk/s320/IMG_8400.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bible Stories with Mamaw</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a71d1H5q1wo/T7UG1FmCHKI/AAAAAAAAAj4/6H3dhgMwqOc/s1600/553132_10100289091674826_6503014_42283741_408638410_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a71d1H5q1wo/T7UG1FmCHKI/AAAAAAAAAj4/6H3dhgMwqOc/s1600/553132_10100289091674826_6503014_42283741_408638410_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texas Bluebonnets - a tradition that we finally got in on</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob94QOiZMmc/T7UG0iQ81MI/AAAAAAAAAjw/6CmFUeEUrd4/s1600/526052_564697585983_163200043_31066365_626464579_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob94QOiZMmc/T7UG0iQ81MI/AAAAAAAAAjw/6CmFUeEUrd4/s1600/526052_564697585983_163200043_31066365_626464579_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter Egg hunt at the apartments</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-uETUR602s/T7UG0EDKhhI/AAAAAAAAAjo/XUDv-IQONEY/s1600/389325_567793217313_163200043_31075173_1509741520_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v-uETUR602s/T7UG0EDKhhI/AAAAAAAAAjo/XUDv-IQONEY/s1600/389325_567793217313_163200043_31075173_1509741520_a.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big boy sitting at the big kids table at church one day!</td></tr></tbody></table><br />One of my favorite songs to sing: Glorious Day by Casting Crowns<br />One day when Heaven was filled with His praises<br />One day when sin was as black as could be<br />Jesus came forth to be born of a Virgin<br />Dwelt among men, my example is He<br /><br />Word became flesh and the light shined among us<br />His glory revealed<br /><br />Living He loved me, dying He saved me<br />And buried He carried my sins far away<br />Rising He justified freely forever<br />One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day<br /><br />One day they led Him up Calvary's mountain<br />One day they nailed Him to die on a tree<br />Suffering anguish, despised and rejected<br />Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He<br /><br />Hands that healed nations, stretched out on a tree<br />And took the nails for me<br /><br />'Cause living He loved me, dying He saved me<br />And buried He carried my sins far away<br />Rising He justified freely forever<br />One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day<br /><br />One day the grave could conceal Him no longer<br />One day the stone rolled away from the door<br />Then He arose, over death He had conquered<br />Now He's ascended, my Lord evermore<br /><br />Death could not hold Him<br />The grave could not keep Him from rising again<br /><br />Living He loved me, dying He saved me<br />And buried He carried my sins far away<br />Rising He justified freely forever<br />One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day<br />Glorious day<br /><br />One day the trumpet will sound for His coming<br />One day the skies with His glories will shine<br />Wonderful day, my beloved one bringing<br />My Savior Jesus is mine<br /><br />Living He loved me, dying He saved me<br />And buried He carried my sins far away<br />Rising He justified freely forever<br />One day He's coming, oh, glorious day, oh, glorious day<br />Glorious day, oh, glorious day<br /><br />A + D Brayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13088675235226724382noreply@blogger.com0